Hook-shaped throwing members and horizontal receiving support rod

ABSTRACT

A game system having a plurality of throwing members engageable with a horizontal rod. Each throwing member has a hook-shaped end with an enlarged opposite end and a constant thickness therebetween. A horizontal rod is received into the hollow horizontal end portions of two identical right angle posts. The bottom portion of each post extends vertically and has a lower stake formed end. The horizontal rod includes three scoring areas marked thereon to receive the throwing members.

United States Patent 1191 Benfield 1 Nov. 27, 1973 HOOK-SHAPED THROWING MEMBERS AND HORIZONTAL RECEIVING SUPPOR ROD [76] Inventor: Donald c. Benfield, 815 Earl $1.,

Middletown, 1nd. 47356 22 Filed: Feb. 12, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 331,548

[52] U.S. Cl 273/95 R, 273/102 S, 273/106 C [51] Int. Cl A631) 71/02 [58] Field of Search 273/106 C, 106 R,

273/100, 104, 95 R, 102 R, 102 S; 211/1052, 123, 177

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,797,924 7/1957 Stewart 273/106 R 3,595,578 7/1971 Burcenski 273/106 R 2,076,010 4/1937 String 273/100 8/1971 Curtiss 273/100 2,778,030 1/1957 Goche 211/1052 3,172,541 3/1965 Hiser 211/1052 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind Attorney-John V. Moriarty [5 7 ABSTRACT A game system having a plurality of throwing members engageable with a horizontal rod. Each throwing member has a hook-shaped end with an enlarged op- 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1' HOOK- SHAPED .TI-IROWING MEMBERS AND HORIZONTAL RECEIVING SUPPORT ROD BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionis. in the field of games.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the U. S. Pat. No. 3,602,509 issued to Frank E. Curtiss, there is disclosed and claimed a game system which includes a plurality of throwing members which are engageable with a stationary support. The throwing membersare in support or irregularly configured to providefor a number of different engaging positions. Other variations of this type of game are shown in the U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,073,324 issued to R. K. Stockton and 2,076,010 issued to B. T. String. Different types of throwing projectiles are shown in the U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,009,252 issued to F. W. Erickson, 2,809,837 issued to J. H. Shepherd, and 3,507,496 issued to G. J. Miller.

Disclosed herein is yet another game system which inludes a plurality of throwing members which are engageable with a support. The game system disclosed herein is relatively more difficult to play as contrasted with the prior art systems since the player must be more accurate when throwing the game pieces. This is true since the game pieces will slip off the radiused ends of the support member if the game pieces are not thrown to the center portion of the support members. In addition, the center portion is divided into three separate scoring areas allowing for different scoring depending upon the accuracy of the throw. The game is particularly advantageous as compared to the prior art games in that it is relatively inexpensive and is much easier to disassemble prior to shipment. Likewise, the assembly of the game system is relatively simple allowing for the easy and quick erection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION and an upper horizontal portion, a horizontal rod with opposite ends slidably received into and supported by upper horizontal portions of each post member, and at least one throwing member having a hook-shaped end sized to hookingly engage the rod and having an enlarged opposite end with a constant thickness between the hook-shaped end and the enlarged opposite end.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved game system.

Afurther object of the present invention is to provide a game which is relatively inexpensive and which is readily shippable and erectable.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a game having throwing members engageable with a support which is more difficult to play as compared to theprior art system.

Relatedobjects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the followingdescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the support of the game incorporating the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a support 10 which includes a pair of identical post members 12 and 13. Post members 12 and 13 have a hollow main body with a right angle configuration including respectively lower vertical portions 16 and 15 integrally joined respectively to upper horizontal portions 14 and 17. The bottom end 18 and 19 of posts 12 and 13 are tapered forming stakes to allow the post members to be driven into the ground such as shown in FIG. 3. The bottom ends of the post members are closed to prevent dirt from entering the hollowinterior of the post members. A horizontal rod 11 has opposite ends which are slidably received into and supported by the upper horizontal portions 14 and 17 of each post member.

A plurality of identical throwing members are provided for each player to throw at the support end and engage rod 11. Each throwing member 20 has a hookshaped end 21 defining the recess 23 for hookingly engaging rod 11. The opposite end 24 is enlarged so as to hang downwardly as shown in FIG. 3 when the hook end is engaged with the rod. Each throwing member has a constant thicknessbetween the hook-shaped end and the enlarged opposite end. Edge 22 of end 21 extends inwardly toward recess 23 to facilitate the engagement of the throwing member with the rod. The throwing members are produced from plastic.

The rod has a circular cross section and is provided with markings which define the rod into at least three separate scoring areas 11a, 11b, and 110. Different points may be awarded depending upon which scoring area the throwing member engages. For example, the player may be awarded two points for engaging area 1 1a whereas he is awarded only one point for engaging areas 11b or 11c. Thus, the scoring areas stress the accuracy of the throw. The circular cross section of the rod allows the hook-shaped end of the throwing member to rock thereon when thrown and engaged on the rod. Thus, the throwing member may easily move from one scoring area to another scoring area. The main body of each post member has a portion which integrally joins the vertical portion and the horizontal portion of the post. The joining portion is smoothly radiused allowing the thrown member to slip off of the post if thrown thereon. It is anticipated that the length of each scoring area 11a, 11b, and will be 8 inches.

It will be obvious from the above description that the present invention provides a new and improved game. It will be further obvious from the above description that the game disclosed herein is relatively inexpensive to produce and it is easily erected or disassembled. Thus, the game may be easily shipped in a disassembled state. In addition, it will be obvious from the above description that the game disclosed herein is relatively more difficult as compared to the prior art games.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

l. A game system comprising:

a pair of identical post members, each post member having a hollow main body with a closed and tapered bottom end forming a stake for driving into the ground, each main body having a right angle configuration with a lower vertical portion and an upper horizontal portion;

a horizontal rod with opposite ends slidably received into and supported by upper horizontal portions of each post member; and,

at least one throwing member having a hook-shaped end sized to hookingly engage said rod and having an enlarged opposite end with a constant thickness between said hook-shaped end and said enlarged opposite end.

2. The game system of claim 1 wherein:

said rod has markings along the length thereof dividing said rod into at least three separate scoring areas to receive said throwing member.

3. The game system of claim 2 wherein:

said rod has a circular cross section allowing said hook-shaped end to rock thereon when thrown and engaged on said rod; and,

each first main body has a joining portion which is smoothly radiused and which integrally joins said upper horizontal portion to said lower vertical portion allowing said throwing member to slip off of said joining portion when thrown thereon.

4. The game system of claim 3 and further comprisa plurality of throwing members identical to said one throwing member, each throwing member being plastic.

5. The game system of claim 4 wherein:

each separate scoring area extends 8 inches along the length of said rod. 

1. A game system comprising: a pair of identical post members, each post member having a hollow main body with a closed and tapered bottom end forming a stake for driving into the ground, each main body having a right angle configuration with a lower vertical portion and an upper horizontal portion; a horizontal rod with opposite ends slidably received into and supported by upper horizontal portions of each post member; and, at least one throwing member having a hook-shaped end sized to hookingly engage said rod and having an enlarged opposite end with a constant thickness between said hook-shaped end and said enlarged opposite end.
 2. The game system of claim 1 wherein: said rod has markings along the length thereof dividing said rod into at least three separate scoring areas to receive said throwing member.
 3. The game system of claim 2 wherein: said rod has a circular cross section allowing said hook-shaped end to rock thereon when thrown and engaged on said rod; and, each first main body has a joining portion which is smoothly radiused and which integrally joins said upper horizontal portion to said lower vertical portion allowing said throwing member to slip off of said joining portion when thrown thereon.
 4. The game system of claim 3 and further comprising: a plurality of throwing members identical to said one throwing member, each throwing member being plastic.
 5. The game system of claim 4 wherein: each separate scoring area extends 8 inches along the length of said rod. 